Tennis and like racket



Oct. 16, 1928.

G. ROBINSON ET AL TENNIS AND LIKE RACKET Filed March 22, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 W X X Oct. 16, 1928.

G. ROBINSON ET AL TENNIS AND LIKE mom-r Filed March 22, 1928 I 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 M n M. M ,3... km W m A 3 Patented Oct. '16, 1928.

UNITED STATES g 1,687,848" PATENT, OFFICE.

GEORGE ROBINSON ANDJ'AMES ROBINSON, or LONDON, ENGLAND.

' TENNIS AND LIKE BACKET.

Application filed-March 22, 1928, Serial No. 263,882; and in Great Britain April 2 19 27.

This invention relates to improvements in tennis and like rackets.

In tennis and similar rackets as at present constructed two lengths of gut or other material forming the mesh are employed, one

length being iised for the horizontal and one for. the transverse members thereof. 1

This invention consists. in stringing or forming the mesh of the racket so .that each string or member or pair of strings or members of the mesh is separate from adjacent strings or pairs of strings whereby if a string breaks or becomes worn the string or pair of strings can be readily replaced without adjacent strings becomingslackened or aliected in any way. I The invention will be described withreference to the accompanying drawings 1 is a vertical section through a tennis.

racket having the strings formingth'e mesh arranged in pairs each pair being separate from adjacent pairs of strings. I

Fig. 2. Side view. of the tennis racket shown in Fig. 1. r

Fig. 8. is an enlarged side view of a part if the frame showing the holes and grooves formed therein to receive the strings.

Fig. 4:. is a similar enlarged side View showing the strings in position.

5. is a section on line 55 Fig. i. w

of gut forming a pair of strings showing the manner in which the ends of the strings are held.

7. is an enlarged side view of a part of he frame ofa racket in which each string arrangement e the string. ig. 8. is a diagrammatic view of a single string showing the manner in which the end of the string is held.

Fig. 9, is an enlarged view of a part of the frame of a racket near the handle showing the holes for receiving the end of a longitudinal string.

Fig. 10. is a similar view showing the end of the string in position.

Fig. 11. is a diagrammatic view of a pair f longitudinal strings formed from a single length showing the manner in which the ends are held. 7

As applied to a racket A in which the strings B are arranged in pairs (seeFigs. 1 to 6) one side of the frame is formed with four holes a a a for each pair of he of holes and grooves to receiv is a diagrammatic view of a length L is from adjacent strings, showing- 1 strings, connected together. by grooves 0 0 c 0* arranged as shown :in Fig. 3 WhllShtllG other sideof the frame is formed with two holes aflfa, connected together by the groove v The gut forming the strings B is cut into lengths equal ,to'the lengthof a pair of strings and one end 6 is threaded through the .hole a fromtlie inside of the frame to the outside of the frame as indicated by the arrows inFigs. 5 and 6, it is then threaded in the opposite direction through the hole a and back to the outside of the frame through the hole af 1 The free end I) is then passed-under the portion of the string 6 in the groovefc connecting the holesa and at so that when thestring is pulled taut, the portion 6 will grip the end part b lying in the groove 0 between it and theframe. v

The other end 6 of the stringB'is then threaded across the frame,- through the hole a along the groove 0 back through the hole (56 and" again across the-frame tothe hole a to the outside of the frame. It is then threaded through the hole a to the inside of the frame, .back up through the hole a and the end passed under portion 6 of the string lying in the groove 0 connecting the holes a, and a When the end is pulled taut the portion bf of the string grips the end portion 6 lying in the groove 0* between it and the frame so that the whole string is firmly held'in a taut condition. y

Each series of holes (1 a a a may be arranged at one side of the frame and each pair of holes a and a. at the other side but it ispreferred to arrange'a a a, a and the holes at, a alternately so that the fastening of one pair of strings is at one side of the frame and the fastening of the next pair of strings is at the opposite side of the frame.

As applied to a racket having single strings each separate from one another Figs. 7 and 8) three holes a a a are formed at each side of the frame for each string B The holes a and a being connected by the groove 0 and a second groove 0 terminating at the hole a being arranged transversely to the groove 0 Theend b of the string B is threaded from the inside of the frame through the hole a along the groove 0 to the hole a It is then threaded in the opposite direction through the hole a to the inside of the frame and back through the hole a to the outside of the frame. The end 6 is then passed under the portion 5 of the string being in the groove connecting the holes a and a? so that when the string is pulled taut the portion 6 will grip the end portion 12 lying in the groove. 0 between it and the frame.

The other end of the string is held in position in exactly the same way. T 0 hold the longitudinal strings near the longitudinal central line of the racket four holes are formed through the wedge of the racket the holes (Z and (I being oblique and the holes d and d being transverse. One end 5 of the string B is passed through the oblique hole d from the inside of the wedge, through the transverse holes (l back through the transverse hole (i and passed under the portion 6 of the string between the holes (l (Z so that this portion b of the string between the holes al (Z grips the end portion '6 when the string is pulled taut.

The other end b of the string is passed to the head of the racketand threaded through the holes a, a passed obliquely through the hole 01 through the transverse hole d back through the transverse hole 41 and passed under'the portion b of the string between the holes d and ol so that this portion 12* grips the end portion b when the string is pulled taut.

A racket string as above described has each individual string or pair of strings separate from adjacent strings or pairs of strings, and it is a simple matter to insert a new string should one break or become worn.

is pulled taut it will be gripped and held by this portion without the use of wedges.

2; A tennis or like racket comprising a frame, a plurality of separate strings form ing the mesh, groups of holes in the frame through which each end of each string is threaded in and out, grooves connecting adjacent holes in each group in which the string lies so as not to extend above the surface of the frame the end of each string being ultimately passed under a portion of the string lying between two holes so that when the string is pulled taut it-will be gripped and held by this portion without the use of wedges.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto set our hands.

GEORGE ROBINSON. JAMES ROBINSON. 

